EEC MAN ACCUSED OF SHOOTING BUS DRIVER

MBABANE – Public transport drivers should heed passengers’ advice and be polite to them as one of them might be in possession of a gun.

Mthunzi Patrick Dlamini, an employee of the Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC), has been accused of attempted murder after he allegedly shot Derrick Mchamuki Lukhele with a pistol in the left shoulder.

This is according to a charge sheet attached to Dlamini’s urgent bail application, which was heard by Judge Sipho Nkosi. According to the charge sheet, Dlamini allegedly wrongfully, unlawfully and with intent to kill, shot Lukhele with a pistol in the left shoulder and he sustained injuries.

Dlamini, in his bail application, alleged that he was shocked when he was informed that he was charged with attempted murder as he neither shot at anyone nor did his bullet strike any person. Stating his side of events, the accused alleged that on August 4, while aboard a bus towards Manzini at or near Maloma, the bus he was travelling in burst its rear tyre.

Dlamini alleged that the tyre burst was heard inside the bus after which he and other passengers alerted Lukhele, who, however, continued to drive. He alleged that the passengers demanded that Lukhele stop and attend to the tyre but he did not. He alleged that he then joined the other passengers to make the demand and took the initiative to move to him and inform him of the situation. In his submission, he alleged that the situation was dangerous as the bus might have overturned.

Dlamini also alleged that instead of being polite, Lukhele told him to back off. He claimed that this angered him but he allegedly did nothing about it and went back to his seat. He alleged that the other passengers made noise and stood up to compel the driver to stop. He alleged that the bus eventually stopped and they alighted to allow Lukhele to attend to the tyre. “As we were standing outside, a number of vehicles approached the bus loaded with people who were sort of an army,” alleged Dlamini.